TO GO WITH lifestyle-Asia-children-socie

TO GO WITH lifestyle-Asia-children-society FEATURE by Frank ZellerIn a picture taken on December 21, 2010 an elderly women prays as a Buddhist monk chants a sutra at Kouganji Temple in Tokyo. East Asia's booming economies have for years been the envy of the world, but a shortfall in one crucial area -- babies -- threatens to render yesterday's tigers toothless. Some of the world's lowest birth rates look set to slash labour forces Asian countries where fewer workers will support more retirees and their ballooning health care and pension costs. On current trends, Japan's population of 127 million will by 2055 shrivel to 90 million, warns the National Institute of Population and Social Security Research. AFP PHOTO/Toru YAMANAKA (Photo credit should read TORU YAMANAKA/AFP via Getty Images)